Slim Aarons 'Venetian Play, Orson Welles'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Venetian Play, 1952 Silver gelatin print Estate edition of 150 Signature stamped and hand numbered with Certificate of authenticity 1952: Orson Welles (1915 - 1985) directing Othell...
Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons 'Venetian Play, Orson Welles'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Venetian Play, 1952 Silver gelatin print Estate edition of 150 Signature stamped and hand numbered with Certificate of authenticity 1952: Orson Welles (1915 - 1985) directing Othell...
Silver Gelatin
Slim Aarons 'Venetian Play, Orson Welles'
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Venetian Play, 1952 Silver gelatin print Estate edition of 150 Signature stamped and hand numbered with Certificate of authenticity 1952: Orson Welles (1915 - 1985) directing Othell...
Silver Gelatin
Ursula Pacelli in Venice (Aarons Estate Edition)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Ursula Pacelli poses at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy, 1957. (Photo by Slim Aarons/Getty Images) Slim Aarons (1916-2006) worked mainly for society publications photographing "attra...
Lambda
Slim Aarons, Tyrolean Churches (Mid-Century Modern Landscape Photography)
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Slim Aarons Natale Rusconi in Venice 1990 (printed later) C print Estate stamped and numbered edition of 150 with Certificate of authenticity The Andreas Kirche and Liebfrauen Kir...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Barbara Hutton, Venice
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Barbara Hutton, 1958: the American socialite and Woolworth heiress, the world's richest woman, reclining by the Lido in Venice. Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from t...
C Print
Venice Gondolier, Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A gondolier on the Grand Canal in Venice, 1957. Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Certificate of Authenticity included Numbered and stamped by the Slim Aarons Estate Collector will recei...
Lambda
Venice Gondolier, Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A gondolier on the Grand Canal in Venice, 1957. Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Certificate of Authenticity included Numbered and stamped by the Slim Aarons Estate Collector will recei...
Lambda
Venice Gondolas (1957) Limited Estate Stamped
By Slim Aarons
Located in London, GB
Venice Gondolas (1957) Limited Estate Stamped (Photo By Slim Aarons) Gondolas moored in Venice, 1957.
Color, Archival Pigment
Lido Life, Venice, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a group of friends squeeze onto an inflatable raft at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy.
Lambda
Lido Life, Venice, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a group of friends squeeze onto an inflatable raft at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy.
Lambda
Lido Life, Venice, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a group of friends squeeze onto an inflatable raft at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy.
Lambda
Price Upon Request
Excelsior Hotel Gala, Venice, 1957
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Estate Embossed
Photographic Paper
Lido Life, Venice, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a group of friends squeeze onto an inflatable raft at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy.
Lambda
Lido Life, Venice, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a group of friends squeeze onto an inflatable raft at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy.
Lambda
Lido Life, Venice, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a group of friends squeeze onto an inflatable raft at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy.
Lambda
$3,000
Sunbathing In Venice, Italy, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a woman sunbatheing, wearing a novelty straw sun hat with built-in sunglasses, Venice.
Lambda
$4,200
Sunbathing In Venice, Italy, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a woman sunbatheing, wearing a novelty straw sun hat with built-in sunglasses, Venice.
Lambda
$3,900
Sunbathing In Venice, Italy, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a woman sunbatheing, wearing a novelty straw sun hat with built-in sunglasses, Venice.
Lambda
Natale Rusconi, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Natale Rusconi riding a Hotel Cipriani motor launch with the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore on San Giorgio Maggiore island beyond, in Venice, Italy, in September 1978. Slim Aarons ...
Lambda
Natale Rusconi, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Natale Rusconi riding a Hotel Cipriani motor launch with the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore on San Giorgio Maggiore island beyond, in Venice, Italy, in September 1978. Slim Aarons ...
Lambda
Natale Rusconi, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Natale Rusconi riding a Hotel Cipriani motor launch with the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore on San Giorgio Maggiore island beyond, in Venice, Italy, in September 1978. Slim Aarons ...
Lambda
$1,800
Sunbathing In Venice, Italy, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a woman sunbatheing, wearing a novelty straw sun hat with built-in sunglasses, Venice.
Lambda
$3,600
Sunbathing In Venice, Italy, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a woman sunbatheing, wearing a novelty straw sun hat with built-in sunglasses, Venice.
Lambda
$2,400
Sunbathing In Venice, Italy, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a woman sunbatheing, wearing a novelty straw sun hat with built-in sunglasses, Venice.
Lambda
Florence Pritchett Smith, Venice, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 1950 portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features model turned fashion editor turned society hostess, Florence Pritchett Smith, covers her sleevel...
Lambda
Florence Pritchett Smith, Venice, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 1950 portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features model turned fashion editor turned society hostess, Florence Pritchett Smith, covers her sleevel...
Lambda
Ursula Pacelli, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Ursula Pacelli posing at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy, 1957.
Lambda
Ursula Pacelli, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Ursula Pacelli posing at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy, 1957.
Lambda
Ursula Pacelli, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Ursula Pacelli posing at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy, 1957.
Lambda
$2,400
Pope Paul VI, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early-1970s photograph, taken by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Pope Paul VI (1897-1978) delivering a sermon during his visit to Venice, Italy, in October 1972.
Lambda
$1,800
Pope Paul VI, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early-1970s photograph, taken by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Pope Paul VI (1897-1978) delivering a sermon during his visit to Venice, Italy, in October 1972.
Lambda
$3,000
Pope Paul VI, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early-1970s photograph, taken by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Pope Paul VI (1897-1978) delivering a sermon during his visit to Venice, Italy, in October 1972.
Lambda
Ursula Pacelli, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Ursula Pacelli posing at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy, 1957.
Lambda
Ursula Pacelli, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1950s photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Ursula Pacelli posing at the Venice Lido, Venice, Italy, 1957.
Lambda
Venetian Play, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early 1950s photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Orson Welles (1915 - 1985) directing Othello on location in Venice.
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS, Black and White, Digital, Photogram
Venetian Play, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early 1950s photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Orson Welles (1915 - 1985) directing Othello on location in Venice.
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS, Black and White, Digital, Photogram
Venetian Play, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early 1950s photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Orson Welles (1915 - 1985) directing Othello on location in Venice.
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS, Black and White, Digital, Photogram
Venetian Play, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This early 1950s photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Orson Welles (1915 - 1985) directing Othello on location in Venice.
Emulsion, Photographic Paper, ABS, Black and White, Digital, Photogram
Natale Rusconi, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late-1970s photograph, taken by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Natale Rusconi riding a Hotel Cipriani motor launch with the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore on San Gio...
Lambda
Natale Rusconi, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late-1970s photograph, taken by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Natale Rusconi riding a Hotel Cipriani motor launch with the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore on San Gio...
Lambda
Natale Rusconi, Venice, Estate Edition, Mid-Century Modern Photograph
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Natale Rusconi riding a Hotel Cipriani motor launch with the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore on San Giorgio Maggiore island beyond, in Venice, Italy, in September 1978. Slim Aarons ...
Lambda
Sunbathing in Venice, 1954 - Limited Edition Estate Stamped C-Type Print
By Slim Aarons
Located in Brighton, GB
Sunbathing in Venice, 1954 by Slim Aarons 16 x 20" print. Limited Edition Estate Stamped C-Print.
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Digital
Westin Excelsior, Lido in Venice, 1957 - Limited Edition Estate Stamped C-Type
By Slim Aarons
Located in Brighton, GB
Westin Excelsior, Lido in Venice, 1957 by Slim Aarons 16 x 20" print. Limited Edition Estate Stamped Print.
Photographic Paper, C Print, Color, Digital
Peggy Guggenheim at the Palazzo Venier Dei Leoni, Venice, Italy
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Grand Hotel Excelsior, Venice, Estate Edition, Gondolas on the Canal at Westin
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Westin Excelsior Hotel on the Lido in Venice, 1957. Numbered and stamped by the Slim Aarons Estate.
Lambda
Price Upon Request
Peggy Guggenheim, September 1978: in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, Venice
By Slim Aarons
Located in New York, NY
Staley-Wise Gallery offers photographic prints from the Slim Aarons Archive, owned and housed by Getty Images Archive in London. All photographs are printed and authorized by the Get...
C Print
Westin Excelsior, Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Westin Excelsior Hotel on the Lido in Venice, 1957. Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Certificate of Authenticity included Numbered and stamped by the Slim Aarons Estate Collector wi...
Lambda
Westin Excelsior, Estate Edition
By Slim Aarons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Westin Excelsior Hotel on the Lido in Venice, 1957. Slim Aarons Estate Edition, Certificate of Authenticity included Numbered and stamped by the Slim Aarons Estate Collector wi...
Lambda
American photographer Slim Aarons captured the 20th century’s international jet set — U.S. socialites, European royalty, Hollywood stars — at play in sun-kissed locales like Monaco, Saint-Tropez and Palm Beach, as well as other luxurious settings around the globe.
Committed to eschewing makeup and artificial lighting, Aarons created images that are at once candid and polished, combining the relaxed posture of his subjects, who trusted him to document their lives, with the visual sharpness of a seasoned art director. Having gotten his start taking pictures for the U.S. military magazine Yank during World War II, he contributed over the course of his career to Life, Town and Country and Holiday magazines and published several books.
Aarons was born in Manhattan in 1916. He joined the army at 18, shooting military maneuvers at West Point before serving as a combat photographer, for which he was awarded a Purple Heart. After the war, he moved to California and began snapping socialites and movie stars.
In the 1950s, Aarons opened a bureau for Life magazine in Rome, where he took pictures capturing the postwar scene. He was always able to win the trust of his elite subjects, who saw him as close to a peer, rather than a paparazzo.
In a 2002 interview with The Independent, Aarons remarked, ''I knew everyone. They would invite me to one of their parties because they knew I wouldn't hurt them. I was one of them.'' This access allowed him to document the rich and famous with their guard down, reading newspapers and magazines, talking on the phone, relaxing by the pool, and chatting with friends. The 1957 photograph The Kings of Hollywood, for example, which won him wide acclaim, shows Clark Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart laughing together as they celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Many of Aarons’s best-known images involve games and sports. In the 1972 Poolside Backgammon, two young women play the board game of the title against the backdrop of a majestic Acapulco estate. In 1958’s Cannes Watersports, a couple attempts to glide across the Golfe de la Napoule on Jet Skis, one expertly and one hanging on for dear life. And in Penthouse Pool, shot in Athens in 1961, a young woman wearing a yellow bathing cap smiles coyly at the camera, surrounded by friends and brightly colored seat cushions, with the Acropolis faintly visible in the background.
Among Aarons’s books are 1974’s A Wonderful Time: An Intimate Portrait of the Good Life, and its 2003 sequel, Once Upon a Time. His final book, A Place in the Sun, was published in 2005, one year before his death.
Find a collection of vintage Slim Aarons photography on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of photography on 1stDibs today.
The first permanent image created by a camera — which materialized during the 1820s — is attributed to Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The French inventor was on to something for sure. Kodak introduced roll film in the 1880s, allowing photography to become more democratic, although cameras wouldn’t be universally accessible until several decades later.
Digital photographic techniques, software, smartphone cameras and social-networking platforms such as Instagram have made it even easier in the modern era for budding photographers to capture the world around them as well as disseminate their images far and wide.
What might leading figures of visual art such as Andy Warhol have done with these tools at their disposal?
Today, when we aren’t looking at the digital photos that inundate us on our phones, we look to the past to celebrate the photographers who have broken rules as well as records — provocative and prolific artists like Horst P. Horst, Lillian Bassman and Helmut Newton, who altered the face of fashion and portrait photography; visionary documentary photographers such as Gordon Parks, whose best-known work was guided by social justice; and pioneers of street photography such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, who shot for revolutionary travel magazines like Holiday with the likes of globetrotting society lensman Slim Aarons.
Find photographers you may not know in Introspective and The Study — where you’ll read about Berenice Abbott, who positioned herself atop skyscrapers for the perfect shot, or “conceptual artist-adventurer” Charles Lindsay, whose work combines scientific rigor with artistic expression, or Massimo Listri, known for his epic interiors of opulent Old World libraries. Photographer Jeannette Montgomery Barron was given a Kodak camera as a child. Later, she shot on Polaroid film before buying her first 35mm camera in her teens. Barron's stunning portraits of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Warhol and other artists chronicle a crucial chapter of New York’s cultural history.
Throughout the past two centuries, photographers have used their medium to create expressive work that has resonated for generations. Shop a voluminous collection of this powerful fine photography on 1stDibs. Search by photographer to find the perfect piece for your living room wall, or spend some time with the work organized under various categories, such as landscape photography, nude photography and more.